Should You Consider Hiring a Coach?

As a wellness professional who regularly partners with coaches, I’ve noticed there’s a lot of confusion surrounding the coaching profession—and it’s not hard to see why. Coaching offerings are so vague, and it seems like everyone’s a "coach" these days.

When you hire a coach, what are you signing up for? How do you determine if a coach is legit? How do you know if you could benefit from a coach in the first place? These are common and important questions.

I want to help you cut through the confusion. Here’s what you need to know about coaching.

What Kinds of Services Does a Coach Offer?

There are coaches for just about anything. Life coaches. Career coaches. Relationships coaches. Health coaches. Money coaches. Breakups coaches. You name it—there are likely coaches standing by to help you.

Traditionally, a coach acts as a guide in your own process. They skillfully draw out answers from within you and provide reflections that help you deepen your awareness and come to your own conclusions. They hold you accountable but don’t offer expertise or advice.

These days, however, experts and mentors also tend to refer to themselves as "coaches." Unlike traditional coaches, this type of coach provides expert insight, advice, and information on a specific topic, be it fitness, nutrition, business, money, or personal growth.

No one type of coach is better than the other, but just be aware that both exist. It's critical to be clear about the type of coach you want and need and to hire the coach you intend to hire.

It’s also important to note that coaching is distinct from therapy. While not always true, therapy tends to focus more on treating clinical issues such as anxiety, OCD, and depression.

What Takes Place During Coaching Sessions?

Every coach will have a different approach to how they work. That’s why it’s essential to ask the coach about their process before hiring them. An effective coach will have a tried-and-true framework in place to guide you and facilitate learning, growth, and understanding.

Coaching sessions generally occur at least once a month, but often more frequently. During a session, a coach meets with a client (typically virtually) for an intentional conversation about a topic of the client’s choosing.

During the session, a coach will listen, ask good questions, affirm insights, help you craft an actionable plan, and, in some cases, provide expert information and advice. By the end of the meeting, the client should have a short list of specific action steps they will work on before the next session.

How Do You Know If It’s Time to Hire a Coach?

Life is full of ups and downs, so how do you know when it’s time to call in a professional? Here are some questions to consider:

• Are you feeling stagnant in your relationships, career, or life in general?

• Do you have a bunch of ideas and dreams but have a habit of finding reasons for delaying or not taking action?

• Are you questioning if you’re on the right life path?

• Do you have self-limiting beliefs that are keeping you back?

• Do you lack focus or purpose?

• Do you feel like something is missing in your life, but you can’t put your finger on what it is?

• Have you lost enthusiasm or passion for your current career or life path?

• Do you constantly start new things but never finish them?

• Do you feel like you are taking one step forward and two steps back?

• Do you find yourself in unfamiliar territory and require assistance in adjusting?

• Do you need more personal accountability?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you could likely benefit from hiring a coach. To be clear, this is nothing to feel ashamed of. Most people would probably answer "yes" to at least one of these questions. Being honest with yourself is a sign of great self-awareness and courage, and it opens the door to meaningful, positive change.

Tips for Finding an Effective Coach

When searching for a coach, there are some important things to understand and consider. Coaching is an entirely unregulated industry—there are no oversight boards, no required credentials, and no code of ethics.

Some coaches complete online programs that proclaim them "certified" life coaches, but these certifications aren’t recognized by any outside authorities. 

If I wanted to call myself a life coach, starting right now, nobody would or could stop me. As such, it’s not surprising that it seems like everyone and their mom has added "coach" to their Instagram bio.

Because this industry is unregulated, it’s imperative to do your due diligence when searching for a coach to hire. Here are my top tips for finding an effective coach:

#1: Check credentials and experience.

Perform some online sleuthing to determine a potential coach’s credentials and experience. Your coach should have experience and skills that will support you in reaching your goals. For example, if you’re seeking a business coach, avoid coaches whose first business is their current coaching business.

Instead, find someone who has successfully created at least one business prior to their coaching business. You want someone who’s walked their talk, done the hard work, accomplished what you want to achieve, and can guide you in creating a game plan for success.

If you’re seeking a non-expert-type coach, find someone with life experience that you feel is relevant to your goals. A coach who has completed a thorough coaching program is a plus, but no course can make up for a lack of real-life experience.

#2: Don’t be fooled by good marketing 

Many coaches have become expert marketers. They have captivating graphics, perfectly posed photos, and motivating website copy.

Good marketing can be persuasive, but ask yourself: Is there evidence that this person has the experience and has helped people like you achieve their desired results? Or are they simply really good at marketing?

Circle back to tip #1 and do your research before hitting "purchase."

#3: Ask lots of questions.

I think it’s always a good idea to reach out to a coach you’re interested in working with before buying a package. Most coaches offer a free introductory call, but if they don’t, shoot them an email.

Ask them questions to determine if they’re a good fit for you. Some good questions include:

• What are your credentials and experience?

• What is your coaching process like?

• What makes you different from other coaches?

• Do you have experience helping people with x, y, or z?

• Do you have client success stories I can see or read?

Your interaction with the coach can also help you get a feel for their personality, style, and approach. Did they reply back quickly, or did it take them a week to respond? Did they provide thorough answers, or were their answers only a few words? Did they seem friendly, well-spoken, and engaging?

These are all helpful clues that give you a peek into what it might be like to work with them.

#4: Consider pricing

Because this industry is unregulated, coaching prices are all over the place. Be sure to analyze whether the price is fair for what you’ll receive. Some coaches charge upwards of $15,000 for a package but only give you 45 minutes of their time every two weeks.

Does that sound right to you? If a coach is more interested in earning passive income than actually putting in work to help their clients, avoid them.

On the flip side, if a coach charges $20 for an hour of their time, that might suggest they don’t have the credentials or experience you’re seeking.

In conclusion

There are plenty of good coaches out there with credentials, experience, and skills. You might have to sift through several "influencers" to find a legit coach, but when you find a good one, they can play a significant role in helping you improve your life.

One final note: before hiring a coach, ensure you’re ready and willing to do the work. A coach can guide and support you, but they can’t do the heavy lifting for you. Only you can do what’s required to achieve your dreams and goals.